Vassar Brothers Medical Center honors past board leaders

Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie recently dedicated a commemorative plaque honoring the men and women who have chaired its board of trustees since the hospital's founding in 1887.

Surrounded by current trustees, medical and administrative leadership, 11 former chairpersons gathered in the medical center's "Hall of Honor" to cut the ribbon on the plaque, which lists every former board chairperson and years of service.

In addressing the guests, Health Quest Board Chairman Robert Dyson said that the vision and dedication of these valued leaders have helped drive the medical center's tremendous progress through the last 125 years. A celebratory luncheon followed the ceremony.

Arlington High graduate wins research prize at MIT

Brian Sennett, a 2009 National Merit Scholar from Arlington High School, has been awarded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 2012 Robert M. Fano research prize for his work on "Water NILM" (non-intrusive load monitoring). The award is given annually to an electrical engineering and computer science student for outstanding work in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

Sennett, a senior who has been accepted into MIT's Fifth-Year Master's of Engineering program, is an electrical engineering major minoring in music. He is a violinist with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, lead electrical engineer on MIT's Formula SAE race car team, president of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and president of E33 Productions, which supports campus events with lighting design, control and installation.

His parents are Chris Ferrero and Marty Sennett of Hopewell Junction.

Vassar Temple steps up for victims of Superstorm Sandy

In the Breezy Point section of Queens, more than 100 homes burned to the ground in a fire fed by the winds of Superstorm Sandy. Many people were left without shelter, supplies and stability, including families with babies.

Vassar Temple, a 164-year-old Reform Jewish congregation in the City of Poughkeepsie, rose to the challenge of helping those babies.

Under the leadership of Nancy Samson of the temple's Social Action Committee, members of the congregation raised $950 during three weeks in November. The money was used to purchase baby formula, baby food, diapers and wipes, which were shipped free of charge to a central distribution site in Breezy Point, from which they were given to families still in need of those supplies for their babies.